Depression

Coping with Symptoms & Finding Greater Joy

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, nearly 8% of U.S. adults have had a major depressive episode. Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition in the world. For those who struggle with depression, just knowing they’re not alone is often a starting point to work toward achieving their goals to better manage depression symptoms. On this page, you can learn about the impact of depression, how therapy benefits those who struggle with this condition, and what you can expect when you visit Mosaic Clinical Services for therapy sessions. 

 

Am I Depressed? 

Depression is more than one thing. It’s an umbrella term used to describe a number of conditions, including clinical depression, major depressive disorder, bipolar I and II disorders, postpartum depression, and persistent depressive disorder. While each specific type of depression has its own unique symptoms, some of the common warning signs of depression include: 

• Intense and overwhelming feelings of sadness, tearfulness, or low mood

• Hopelessness or helplessness

• Unexplained outbursts of intense anger, frustration, or irritation 

• Loss of interest or joy in activities that were once enjoyable

• Sleeping too much or not enough

• Physical exhaustion or unexplained aches and pains

• Eating too much or not enough

• Difficulty concentrating or remembering details 

• Thoughts of death or suicide

 

Will Therapy Really Help My Depression? 

Because individuals who struggle with depressed mood so often experience recurrence, people think that therapy doesn’t help. While there’s not necessarily a one-time cure for depression, therapy significantly alleviates symptoms, so individuals can lead more satisfying lives. Some of the many benefits of therapy for depression include: 

• Feel better now and in the future – depression is typically considered a lifelong diagnosis. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression now, you are likely to have this experience again in the future. The skills you learn in therapy will help you start living a more fulfilling life now and help you to maintain this improved mood during future bouts of depression. 

• Changes of perspective – one of the many negative effects of depression is the way it can create blinders, blocking out everything but the feelings of depression. Talking with a therapist is a great way to introduce a different perspective to remove those blinders and refocus attention. 

• Name emotions – being able to correctly identify emotions as they arise is a starting point to overcoming depression. When we can identify emotions that make us feel good, we may be better able to hold onto them. The same is true of emotions that are harmful. Recognizing the harm of hanging onto these emotions may make it possible for individuals to process these feelings and let them go before they become destructive. 

• Develop coping strategies – learning healthy ways to manage depression symptoms when they arise can help to minimize the impact of depression on daily life, so you can reclaim a greater sense of stability and control. 

 

What Happens During Therapy Session for Depression? 

Before diving into learning new coping skills and strategies to manage depression symptoms, your therapist will sit down and chat with you about your experience with depression. You’ll work together to create the plan for your continued therapy sessions, so you can work toward achieving specific goals that you set for yourself. During each session, you’ll review your progress, and set small, achievable tasks that you will complete between sessions to work toward achieving your goals. At each visit, you’ll talk about your progress, adjust therapy plans and approaches as necessary, and keep working together as you learn to implement skills and strategies necessary that will allow you to experience a full range of emotions again.

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How do I Get Started with Mosaic Clinical Services?

If you’re ready to schedule a session or you want to learn more, please contact our team. One of us will be happy to speak with you about available counseling services and help you determine what your next steps should be.